"One thing I teach:

suffering and the end of

Experience is analyzed into five aggregates (skandhas). The first, suffering. It is just ill
form (rupa), refers to material existence; the following four, and the ceasing of ill
sensations (vedana), perceptions (samjna), psychic constructs that I proclaim."
(samskara), and consciousness (vijnana), refer to psychological
processes. The central Buddhist teaching of non-self (anatman) -- The Buddha --
asserts that in the five aggregates no independently existent,
immutable self, or soul, can be found. All phenomena arise
interrelation and in dependence on causes and conditions, and
thus are subject to inevitable decay and cessation. The casual
conditions are defined in a 12-membered chain called dependent
origination (pratityasamutpada) whose links are: ignorance,
predisposition, consciousness, name-form, the senses, contact,
craving, grasping, becoming, birth, old age, and death, whence
again ignorance. Buddhism is the fourth largest religion of the world.

Noble Eightfold Path:

Founded by Gautam Buddha, it is a path of spiritual development

that helps a person in finding the true nature of life. Buddhism
emphasizes on experiencing, rather than teaching or learning. It
considers meditation as the means to enlightenment and is based
on a number of principles. The followers of Buddhism do not
worship any God and follow the noble eightfold path to lead a
meaningful existence.

Date founded:
c. 520 BCE
1. Right Knowledge
Understand the Four Noble Truths
2. Right Thinking Place founded:
Decide to set a life on the correct path Northeastern India
3. Right Speech
Don't lie Adherents:
Don't criticize others unjustly 360 million
Don't use harsh language
Don't gossip Main locations:
4. Right Conduct
Follow the Five Precepts
5. Right Livelihood
Earn a living that does not harm living things
6. Right Effort
Conquer all evil thoughts China Japan Korea Southeast Asia
Strive to maintain good thoughts MEMBERS:
Major divisions:
Fairylane Soon
7. Right Mindfulness Jairah Barbara Cabo
Become intensely aware of all the states in body,
Dinah Teves
feeling, and mind. Jejoma Bayno
April Anne Tibay
8. Right Concentration Jane Rose Tanjay
Deep meditation to lead to a higher state ofArnibel Darnayla
consciousness (enlightenment)
BUDDHISM
Theravada means "The Way of the Elders" in Pali, reflecting the
Theravadins' belief that they most closely follow the original beliefs
and practices of the Buddha and the early monastic Elders.
Mahayana Buddhism emerged in the first century CE as a more
liberal, accessible interpretation of Buddhism. As the "Greater
Vehicle" (literally, the "Greater Ox-Cart"), Mahayana is a path
available to people from all walks of life - not just monks and
ascetics.
Vajrayana Buddhism is based, to a certain extent, on the tantras,
tantric techniques written in Indian scriptures. It prescribes the
technique of 'use the result as the Path'. It means that a person
should try to identify with the enlightened body, speech and mind
of a Buddha. The form of Buddha one can best relate to is known
as yidam (in Tibetan) or ishtadevata (in Sanskrit). For the purpose
of self-identification with a Buddha-form, Buddhist tantric
techniques make use of symbolism and visualization.
Sacred texts:
Pali canon , sacred literature of Buddhism . The texts in the Pali
canon are the earliest Buddhist sources, and for Theravada
Buddhists, who claim to conserve the original teachings of the
Buddha, they are still the most authoritative sacred texts. Pali, the
language in which the canon is written, is a Prakrit (vernacular
dialect) of classical Sanskrit
Original language:
Since the Buddha felt his teachings were for everyone, not just
scholars, he spoke in a language many people in India
understood, Pali. (Hindu texts were written in Sanskrit, which few
people could read or understand.) In a country with a system of
segregation based on caste, the Buddha's democratic views were
a novelty and won him many followers.
Buddhism, the heart of the beings is like an unopened lotus: when
Spiritual leader: the virtues of the Buddha develop therein, the lotus blossoms; that
is why the Buddha sits on a lotus bloom."
White Lotus This represents the state of spiritual perfection and
Monk (lama in Tibetan Buddhism) total mental purity (bodhi). It is associated with the White Tara and
proclaims her perfect nature, a quality which is reinforced by the
color of her body.
Place of ritual:
Pink Lotus This the supreme lotus, generally reserved for the
highest deity. Thus naturally it is associated with the Great Buddha
himself.
Temple meditation hall
The Eight Auspicious Symbols of
Theism: Red Lotus This signifies the original nature and purity of the heart
Buddhism
Varies: Theravada is atheistic; Mahayana is more (hrdya). It is the lotus of love, compassion, passion and all other
polytheistic. qualities of the heart. It is the flower of Avalokiteshvara, the
bodhisattva of compassion.Young Burmese monks on
Ultimate reality: their morning alms rounds.
None. Nothing is permanent.
Human nature: Blue Lotus This is a symbol of the victory of the spirit over the
There is no self or soul. Human existence is nothing senses, and signifies the wisdom of knowledge. Not surprisingly, it
more than a combination of five impermanent is the preferred flower of Manjushri, the bodhisattva of wisdom.
Prayer wheels at a temple in Nepal
components (khandas).
Purpose of life:
Theravada - Become an arhat, escape the cycle of
rebirth, and attain nirvana. Mahayana - Become a
boddhisatva then help others attain enlightenment.
Afterlife: Buddhist flag in Wellington, New Zealand
Rebirth or nirvana. Nirvana is seen simply as the
cessation of suffering by some and as a heavenly
paradise by others.
Holidays:
Vary by region, but often include Buddha's birthday, Buddha's
enlightenment, lunar quarters
Buddhist Symbol:
The lotus (Sanskrit and Tibetan padma) is one of the Eight
Auspicious Symbols and one of the most poignant representations
of Buddhist teaching. According to another scholar, "in esoteric Basic Beliefs and Practices
The basic doctrines of early Buddhism, which remain common to
all Buddhism, include the "four noble truths" : existence is suffering
(dukhka); suffering has a cause, namely craving and attachment
(trishna); there is a cessation of suffering, which is nirvana; and
there is a path to the cessation of suffering, the "eightfold path" of
right views, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood,
right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration. Buddhism
characteristically describes reality in terms of process and relation
rather than entity or substance.